Word Study for G1284 (διαῤῥήσσω)

diarrhḗssō /dee-ar-hrayce'-so/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and ῥήγνυμι

Meaningto tear asunder

KJV usagebreak, rend.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diarrhḗssō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word diarrhḗssō, represented by G1284, means to tear asunder:--break, rend. It is derived from διά and ῥήγνυμι. Appearing 5 times in 5 unique verses, this verb describes a forceful, violent tearing or breaking. It is used both symbolically, in the act of rending garments to express intense emotion, and literally, to describe the breaking of physical objects like nets or bonds.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1284 is used to mark moments of extreme reaction or stress. The high priest is depicted rending his clothes G2440, G5509 upon hearing what he deems to be blasphemy G988 from Jesus (Matthew 26:65; Mark 14:63). Similarly, the apostles G652 Paul and Barnabas rend their clothes G2440 in horror when the people of Lystra attempt to worship them Acts 14:14. The word also describes literal breaking, such as when a fishing net brake under the weight of a miraculous catch Luke 5:6 or when a man possessed by an unclean spirit brake the bands G1199 used to restrain him Luke 8:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the objects and contexts associated with this action:

G2440 himátion: This word for an outer garment or cloke is what the high priest rent in Matthew 26:65 and what the apostles rent in Acts 14:14, signifying a public display of distress.
G5509 chitṓn: Referring to a tunic or shirt, this is the garment the high priest is described as rending in Mark's account of the trial of Jesus Mark 14:63.
G1199 desmón: Meaning a band or shackle, this is what the demon-possessed man broke apart in Luke 8:29, demonstrating a force that could not be contained by human restraints.

Theological Significance

The use of G1284 carries significant weight, illustrating two distinct types of overwhelming force.

Expression of Religious Horror: Rending garments was a visceral, outward sign of profound grief or indignation. The high priest performs this act to condemn Jesus for alleged blasphemy Matthew 26:65, while Paul and Barnabas do so to reject idolatrous worship Acts 14:14.
Demonstration of Supernatural Power: The word is used to show power that transcends the natural order. In Luke 5:6, the breaking net highlights the sheer abundance of the miraculous catch of fish. In Luke 8:29, the breaking of bands G1199 by the possessed man demonstrates the formidable strength of the unclean spirit that Jesus was about to command.

Summary

In summary, G1284 is a powerful verb that conveys violent separation. Whether used to describe the symbolic tearing of a garment G2440 in a moment of outrage or the literal breaking of a net or chains G1199, it consistently points to a breaking point. It captures moments where human emotion, divine provision, or demonic power becomes too great to be contained, resulting in a physical or symbolic rupture.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Imperfect Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); never once in the other 23.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.